Nut & bolts

Swedish automaker Volvo has long preyed upon one of our most basic desires: safety. Early on, that gave the company a clear marketing advantage, as few automakers engineered their cars for safety, and those who did certainly weren’t as strenuous…

Honda does not always get it right. Note the first-generation Odyssey, which was panned as the “Oddity,” the debut of the ugly Ridgeline pickup, and the bland compromise known as the previous-generation Civic. For the most part, buyers have forgiven…

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Six years ago Volvo was in bad shape. Sales were plunging. Its lineup of cars was in need of an overhaul. And after losing gobs of money in the financial crisis, parent company Ford was determined…

LOS ANGELES — Henrik Fisker is returning to the electric vehicle market with a high-cost, high-mileage, battery-powered supercar. The acclaimed designer said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that he will team with a major manufacturer to produce…

America’s history of automotive invention could soon have federal recognition, thanks to a bill introduced by U.S. Sen of Michigan. “We want to preserve the incredible heritage this country has of innovation and putting the world on wheels,” Peters said…

It happens every year. Come Halloween and the dawn of the new model year, various automobiles pass away. Some are fondly remembered, while others go out being ridiculed and reviled. As such, the time has come to mourn a few…

DETROIT — Since embracing tough new fuel economy standards in 2012, automakers have spent billions to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles and have been so successful at meeting tougher regulations they’ve become victims of their own success. Over the past four…

Q: As usual, your recent column about how to freshen up a stinky air conditioning system was very informative. I’m curious, though, when using Lysol spray to disinfect a foul-smelling system, should I take out the cabin air filter? I’m…

SAN FRANCISCO — Until recently, there was no question about who’s responsible for an automobile’s operation: the driver. One-hundred percent. When driverless cars without a steering wheel or brake pedal start hitting the highway, your only role will be ordering…